Roof leader and roof vent



Jun. 1G, 1923. LM-RZE. J. 1. LYTH.

ROOF LEADER AND ROOF VENT.

HLED ocT.6.1919.

/z We 74C Patented dan. i6, 1923.

NETE STATES J' OHN J'. LYTE, OF VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC, CANADA..

ROOF LEADER AND ROOF VENT.

Application filed October 6, 1919. Serial No. 328,868.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN J. LYTH, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and resident of the city of Valleyfield, in the Province ofQuebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Roof Leaders and Roof Vents, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in roof connection and expansionjoints for use in connection with roof drains, Ventilating stacks andthe like, and the object is ,to provide means for connecting drain pipesand the like to a roof in such a manner that the movement of the roofdue to weather yconditions does not have the effect of breaking thejoint betweenlthe roof and pipe and thus causing leaking around thepipe.

At the present time, the usual method of l connecting a drain pipe to aroof is to provide a section of pipe which is clamped tightly to theroof and which connects Vwith Vthe remaining portion of the pipe bymeans of a slip joint, so that the vertical movement of the roofvcdue toatmospheric changes is compensated forvwithoutvcausing a buckling of thedrain pipe or a tearing out of the part which is clamped to the roof. lthas been found, however, that in course of time the slip joints becomecorroded, so that the sections of the pipe are eventually torn apart orbuckled or the clamp torn out of the roof sufficiently to causeleakage'. lt has also been found that the clamps which have been usedand which are rigid structures are insecurely mounted in the roof andthat leaks occur as a result of the expansion and contraction of theroof within ythe clamp and entirely distinct from the leaks due to roofmovement. Considerable difficulty has also been experienced inconnecting the clamps to different types of roofs.

According to the present invention, a roof drain is provided in whichthe clamping member is rigid with respect to the roof at all times,regardless of the expansion and contraction of the roof proper. Flexiblemeans are provided for connecting the clamp with the drain pipe proper,which will allow for the movement of the roof Iwithout un-v dulystressing either the clamp or the drain pipe. The device is soconstructed that all thev parts with one exception are standard for thedifferent types of roof, so that the device may be very easilymanufactured for use in all types of roofs.

The device consists briefly of a. tubular member adapted to pass throughthe thickness ofthe roof and flanged on its outer end to bear againstthe roof. The inner end of the member is provided with a fastening nutand a resilient washer located between the roof and nut to compensatefor expansion and contraction. The inner end of this tubular member isconnected with the upper end of the rigid drain pipe by a suitablelength of thin-walled metal tube, which is circumferentially corrugatedto have great flexibility. The topmost section of the rigid drain pipeis a special nipple designed for connection at one end to the flexiblepipe and at the opposite end to the.rigid drain pipe.

In the drawings which illustrate the inventionz- Fig. 1 is a view of oneform Aof the device half in elevation and half in section.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating differentforms of the device for use with different types of roofs.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the application ofthe invention to a Ventilating pipe or stack.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a roof of anysuitable construction having weatherproofing mate-Y rial 12 on the uppersurface thereof and provided with an aperture 13 through which the drainpipe passes.

According to this invention, the connection between the roof and thedrain pipe proper comprises broadly speaking a clamping tube 14- passingthrough the roof, a nipple 15 for connection with the drain pipe properand a flexible connection 16 between the nipple and clamping tube. Theformation of the upper end of the tube 14 differs according to the styleof roof and according to the purpose of the pipe. ln Figures 1, 2 and 3,the arrangement is shown adapted for the connection of a drain pipe,while in Figure 4,5the device is shown arranged for the connection of aVentilating stack or the like. In Figure 1, the upper end of the tube 14is provided with an outwardly projecting truste-conical flange 17, andthe roof is prepared for the reception of the fiange by chamfering theedge of the aperture 13, asv

at 18, so that the tube 14 is sufficiently countersunk to bring the edgeof its flange at or below the level of the upper surface of the roof, inorder that all water will drain into the tube and none will be held backand lie on the roof, as would be the case if the flange of this ring issmoothly rounded as at 20, so

that Vtherefwill be no sharp edge over which the roofing paper or othersurfacing material l12 may be broken or cut. This form of the device issuitable for use in a roof 'covered with roofing paper or the like, andthe paper iscaught between the seat ring 18 and `the flange 17 andcompressed, so that the roofing paper is held by the flange 17 and inturn forms a gasket under the flange. If low grade roofing paper whichtears readily is used, small radial cuts may bel provided at intervalsaround the tube 14 to localize -any tearing when the paper is stretchedby forcing it tothe frusto-conical form. These cuts in the variouslayers of the paper are staggered. so that a perfectly water-tight jointresults. Obviously, the various layers of paper are laid in tar or othercementing material.

When the drain is to be used in connection with a gravel roof, a tube 14shown in Figure` 2 is substituted for thetube 14. The flange 17a of thistube is disposed in or substantially in a horizontal plane and isprovided at its circumference with an upstanding rim 21. The flat flange17 a presses down on the roofing paper and holds the paper against theflat roof surface, the paper also forming a gasket underl the flange.The rim 21 projects' above the flange a distance equal to the thicknessof the tar and gravel layer above the paper and serves to make a sharplydefined termination for the gravel and tar, and to keep the same fromrvoozing into the drain in warm weather'. Obviously, the rim 21 must notproject above the level ofthe roof surface, otherwise water will beretainedr on the roof. Y

,Y In Figure 3, a slightly different form is shown suitable for useeither on aroof covered with roofing paper or on a metal roof. In thisform, the tube 14" is provided with a horizontally disposed outturnedflange 17b without an rim, as in Figure 2. The roof is prepare bycutting from the surface an amount equal to the thickness of the flange17", so that the flange will not project above the finished surface ofthe roof. The covering of felt paper or metal is now laid and the Y anysuitable form offlange 17c and theftube is continued above the flange toform a spigot or other type of joint 22 with further sections of pipe23, which may be necessary to carry av Ventilating stack orthe like anecessary distance above the roof level. In the form shown in Figure 4,where drainage through the tube does not occur, it will obviously beunnecessary to provide means for getting the upper surface of the flangelevel with or below the roof surface. The flange 17v may serve tosupport any weight of pipe above the roof and vrelieve the pipe below ofthis weight, thereby protecting it against buckling, etc.

In the arrangement of the device fora roof drain, the flange may beprovided with apertured lugs 24 or their equivalent for the attachmentof a straining cage.

The construction of the remainder of the device is exactly the same inall types re- 'gardlessofr the particular flange formation.

The lower part of the tube is externally threaded and a clamping nut25is screwed on to hold the tube in place in the roof. Between the roofand the nut, there is located a plain washer 26 bearing against the roofand a resilient means, such as the radially 'corrugated spring washershown inA Figure 1. In applying the tube to the roof, the nut 1st1ghtened up until the resilient means 27 is partly compressed. l'Itwill thus be seen that if the material of the roof either swells orshrinks, the' resilient means 27 will op- 4tion with the pipe `to which'it -is attached,

and. threaded at its upper end, as at 29. The flexible connection 16 isa suitable length of thm tube, preferably copper, which is cir- 30 beingof considerable depth andY being formed of greater diameter than thebore of the tube proper in order that the bore, which is the same as thebore of the parts 14 and 15,v will not be restricted or-obstructed in`any way. At each end of the tube 16 is a plain cylindrical portion -31terminating in an out-turned flange 32 adapted to seat against the endsof the members 14 and 15. Revolubly mounted on the ends of the tube 16'are coupling nuts 33 and 34. which screw on to or into the parts 14 and15. As the tube 14-is already externally threaded for the nut 25, theobvious method is to thread the nut 33 internally and provide the samewith an internally projecting flange 35, which will engage the flange'32 of the tube 16. The same-construction may vcumferentiallylcorrugated, the lcorrugations -be resorted to to connectthe nipple 15and tube 16, but for the purpose of having the nut 34 as small aspossible and of the same diameter as the .nuts 25 and 33, it ispreferred to have this nut externally threaded and co-operating with aninternally threaded portion of the nipple, so as to bind the tube flange32 against a seat 36 formed at the bottom of the threads 29. While thenipple 15 has been shown as formed .at its lower end to make a spigotjoint, it Will be understood that the form of joint by which 'itconnects to the drain pipe proper is immaterial.

The operation of the device is extremely simple. The clamping tube 14 issecured to the ropf proper by means of the nut 25 and expansions andcontractions of the roof are taken care of by-the resilient member'27,so that the joint between the clamping tube and the roof remains alwaysperfect. The nipple is connected to a drain pipe of any suitableconstruction. If the roof moves as large roofs always do, the flexiblecorrugated pipe 16 yields readily to the movement withoutv disturbingeither the clamping tube 14 or the nipple 15 or pipe below it. Withexpansion and contraction a given point on a roof Will move laterallyand this movement merely serves to bend the tube 16 into a reverselycurved form, the bending being readily accomplished owing to thecircumferential corrugations and the softness and thin- Walled characterof the tube. If the movement of the roof is vertical, as would be causedby the application or removal of snow load, the corrugated tube islengthened or shortened in the same manner as an accordion. Obviously,the resilient member 27 must be much stiffer than the tube 16, so

that it Will hold the tube 14 rigidly in the roof and compel allmovement to take place in the length of the tube 16.

By judiciously proport-'ioning the length of the corrugated tube 16 tothe maximum movement of the roof, the movement in any .part of the tube16 will be so slight that no damage will be done to the tube itself,even if the movement is quite sudden. Any water which may lodge in thecorrugations and freeze will neither burst the tube nor ent'irelydestroy its operativeness. Danger from bursting is guarded against bythe expansible form of the tube and its operativeness is retained by thepresence of the external grooves between the corrugations. which ofcourse do not gather water and freeze. In any event, freezing of roofdrains is vextremely rare even in the coldest weather, owing to thecomparatively warm air rising from the sewers to which they connect and,in this particular instance, freezing is further guarded against by thethinness of the tube wall and by the large heat absorbing surfacearising from the corrugated construction. This feature of the devicefurther operates to prevent the outrush of heat from the main body ofthe pipe to the clamping tube 14, which is of course constantly cooled.The device has no moving parts, such as exist in the slip jointsordinarily provided, and thereis consequently no possibility of`corrosion and consequent sticking of the slip joint as frequentlyoccurswith disastrous results. The device is simple and durable and itscost is no great-er than some expansion joints and less than many.

ll/Vhile the device has been described solely in its connection to roofdrains and ventilating stacks, it will be understood that the sameprinciple and in part the same construction may be applied to any pipeline where an expansion joint is desired. For example, the device may beused as shown in Figure 1 with practically no change as an outboardconnect-ion for a wooden vessel, tank or the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device ofthe class described', the combination with a roof, of a pipe passingtherethrough, afixed flange onY the pipe, a loose flange on. the pipeadapted for engagement with the roof, said flanges being adapted to gripbetween them roof material, said loose flange being chamfered on itsouter roof material engaging edge to compel a gradually easier bendingof roof material such as will avoid cutting or breaking of the roofmaterial.

2. A rof connection for drainage and vent pipes, comprising a pair ofsubstantially rigid tubular members, one for attachment to the roof andthe other for attachment to the pipe, and a flexible connection betweensaid members comprising a circumferentially corrugated tube, the radialdepths of the corrugations being greater than the axial depth thereof,whereby the external surface of the tube in corrugated portion is sogreat in proportion to the internal volume of the corrugations thatfreezing of water in the corrugations which would affect the flexibilityof the tube is substantially prevented.

3. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes, comprising a pair oftubular members one to be attached to the roof and the other to thedrainage or vent pipe, a flexible pipe connecting said members and meansto resiliently clamp the first of said members to the roof, whereby themember will follow all bodily movements of the roof and by itsresiliency will compensate forexpansion and contraction in the thicknessof the roof and' maintain weather-tight connection with the roof.

4. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes, comprising a pair oftubular members one for connection to a roof and the other forconnection to a drainage or vent pipe, the roof engaging memberincluding a flange to overlie theupper surface of the roof, a threadedcollar to underlie the roof and resilientl means to be interposed incompression between said collar and the roof to compensate for expansionand contraction in the thickness of the roof and maintain theflange'permanently in water-tight connection with the upper surface ofthe roof.

5. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes, conprising a pair oftubular members one for attachment to a roof and the other forattachment to the drainage or ventpipe, a tubular flexible connectionbetween saidi members and resilient means connecting the first of saidtubular members to the roof and adapted to compensate for variations inroof thickness and to maintain 'Water-tight connection between themember and roof, said resilient connection being materially stiffer thanthe flexible connection between the tubular members, whereby upon bodilymovement of the roof' relatively to the pipe the flexible connectionwill yield and the resilient connection remains unaffected.

6. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes, comprising a pair oftubular members one to be att-ached to the roof and the other to thedrainage or vent pipe, a. flexible circumferentially corrugated pipeconnecting said members and means to resiliently clamp the first of saidmembers to the roof, whereby the member will follow all bodily movementsof the roof and said means by its resiliency will compensate forexpansion and contraction in the thickness of the roof and maint-ainweather-tight connection with the roof, said clamping means beingmaterially stiffer than the corrugated pipe, whereby upon bodilymovement of the roof relatively to the drain or vent pipe the corrugatedpipe will yield and the clamping means will remain unaffected.

7. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes, comprising a pair oftubular members one for connection to a roof and the other forconnection to a drainage or vent pipe, the roof engaging memberincluding a flange to overlie the upper surface of the roof, a threadedcollar to underlie the roof and resilient means to be interposed incompression between said collar and the roof to compensate for expansionand contraction in the thickness of the roof and maintain the flangepermanently in water-tight connection with the upper surface of theroof, and a flexible circuf'erentially corrugated pipe connected betweenthe tubular members and rigidly to each, said resilient means beingmaterially stiller than the corrugated pipe, whereby upon bodilymovement of the roof relatively to the drain or vent pipe the corrugatedpipe will yield and the resilient means and joint at the surface of theroof will remain unaffected.

8. A roof connection for drainage and vent pipes including a pair offlexible elements, the one having greater flexibility than the other,said members being designed to yield independently, the one tovariations in roof thickness and the other to roof movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN J. LYTH.'

